November 1 and 2 bring us the celebration of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. These two days bring us the wonderful opportunity to contemplate the last things, i.e., those realities which await us at the end of this earthly journey. All Saints Day invites us to glorify God in His Saints in Heaven, while All Souls day invites us to do two things:
1-Pray for those still awaiting entrance through the gates of heaven.
2-Think of our own deaths.
Unfortunately our society does not make this latter point easy to do. One psychologist has described American society as one of "Death Denial." Here one hardly knows he is passing by a cemetery. American cemeteries are almost meant not to be seen by those passing by. Contrast this with cemeteries in Catholic countries such as the one in Genoa, Italy which sits on a hill overlooking the city. Furthermore, its steeples and spires shoot straight up proud and tall. It is almost impossible to be in any part of the city without seeing that cemetery hovering above you; almost pleading with you not to forget that life is quickly passing. For America, however, being a society of "Death Denial" has had its ill effects. We are said to have become an infantile society where the average age of emotional maturity is between the ages of 25-28.
To think upon one's own death is not at all something macabre or sullen. As Christians it is rather something healthy because we are able to remind ourselves of the purpose of life. We must live for those things, such as grace and love, which we take with us beyond the grave.
Life is fleeting, so let us do good. Let us love God and neighbor, and reconcile ourselves with our enemies. These things beautify our souls, and a beautiful soul we indeed take with us beyond the grave. And then we can cry out with St. Paul: "O Death, where is your victory? O Death where is your sting?"
